Today in Mississippi September 2022 Pearl River Valley

SEPTEMBER 2022 FALL GARDEN PLANNING BIG BUSINESS BONSAI HUNTING SEASON GUIDE A Sports Writing Dynasty The Clevelands: FOR MEMBERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF MISSISSIPPI

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Robert “Ace” Cleveland, his sons Rick Cleveland, — known as the dean of Mississippi sportswriters — his brother Robert “Bobby” Cleveland Jr., who tragically died earlier this year, and Rick’s son, Tyler Cleveland, are an honest to goodness sports writing dynasty. We hope you enjoy their story. Speaking of storytelling, I would be remiss if I didn’t give kudos to our staff at Today in Mississippi. The magazine won two National Rural Electric Cooperatives Statewide Editors Association Willie awards this year.

Mississippi is... What’s Mississippi to you? What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your brief thoughts to Today in Mississippi, news@ecm.coop or mail to P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158

Creative Manager Chad Calcote won 1st place in the Best Portrait Photo category for his photograph of retired PR guru Joe Dera and Flora butcher and Chef David Raines from the March 2022 issue. Today in Mississippi Editor Steven Ward won an Award of Excellence (2nd Place) in the Best Entertaining Feature (under 650 words) category for his February 2022 story about a collector of 1980s pizza restaurant memorabilia.TheWillieAwards, which are held annually, showcase the best writing, photos, and design of statewide co-op magazines from all over theMonthU.S. in, and month out, the talented staff of this magazine works hard to put together a publication that is both entertaining and ﬁlled with important information about your electric cooperative.Theyareall storytellers at heart, and we hope that comes through every time you open one of our issues.

by CallahanMichael Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 3

Submit your beautiful digital photo of life in Mississippi to Today in Mississippi, news@ecm.coop

grin ‘n’ bare it my picturopinionethis Storytelling and storytellers

Where Highway 84 meets 61, in a school at Washington, A teacher made learning fun. She made our little town sound great, in 1812, we were capital of the state. Jefferson College for the military bound, is now a museum on Live Oak ground. A Methodist church built in 1799, still stands strong through time. This teacher made it interesting to me, with a love for Mississippi history. Thank you, Washington, 6th-grade class. Thank you, Ms. Pendergrass. by Lynda O’Quinn, a resident of Natchez and a member of Southwest Electric.

Storytelling is at the core of what Today in Mississippi does every month. Whether it’s articles about electrical power safety, information about your co-op’s annual meeting, or the amazing feature stories we publish that showcase the best of Mississippi, the magazine strives to tell the stories that our members both need and want. This month, our cover feature happens to be a story about storytellers. The name “Cleveland” is synonymous with sports writing in Mississippi. Three generations of the Cleveland family have been telling the stories of the state’s athletes from the state’s rural high school ﬁelds to the biggest stages in professional sports.

Vol. 75 No. 9 The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi OFFICERS Eddie Howard - President Randy Carroll - First Vice President Ron Barnes - Second Vice President Tim Perkins - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Alan Burnitt - Graphic Designer Courtney Warren - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Member Services Coordinator Steve Temple - Social Media Director Mickey Jones - Administrative Assistant EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600 Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s electric power associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181 Circulation of this issue: 479,698 Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year. Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published 12 times a year by Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Inc., P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Phone 601-605-8600. Periodical postage paid at Ridgeland, MS, and additional office. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to: Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300 in this issue www.facebook.com/TodayinMississippi www.todayinmississippi.com On the cover Mississippi sports writers Rick Cleveland (left) and his son, Tyler Cleveland at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo by Chad Calcote. southern gardening Planting your fall garden outdoors today September means dove season scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places in Mississippi31573120 on the menu Easy, gooey cinnamon rolls mississippi seen A change of seasons 8 8 2028 local news feature Three generations of the Cleveland family have been telling the state’s sports stories 14 4 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022 Central Electric Power Association, Coahoma Electric Power Association, Coast Electric Power Association, Delta Electric Power Association, Dixie Electric Power Association, East Mississippi Electric Power Association, 4-County Electric Power Association, Magnolia Electric Power, Monroe County Electric Power Association, Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, North East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, Pontotoc Electric Power Association, Singing River Electric, Southern Pine Electric, Southwest Electric, Tippah Electric Power Association, Twin County Electric Power Association, and Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association.

Time to start planting

Fall okra

Simply walking out the front door each day, we’re reminded that it is a blistering hot season. But believe it or not, now is the time to start planning and getting ready for the fall vegetable garden.

Cool-season greens like arugula, mustard and turnip and my favorites. Cincinnati Market radishes are quick and easy. Another musthave in my fall garden is any variety of kale.

Other fall vegetables like broccoli, cauliﬂower, Swiss chard, and collards need a little more time to be ready to eat. Even though it’s really hot now, it is time to sow these seeds in order to have harvest-ready plants in fall. But not every fall crop needs to be a cool-season vegetable.

The beneﬁt of growing fall vegetables is that you can keep your home garden productive much of the year. It extends your harvest of fresh, homegrown, cool-season produce well into the fall and maybe even into winter.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 5

Spring-planted okra can be pretty big right now and may be overwhelming you with pods. These big okra plants can be pruned back. When I learned this, I took my limb loppers and cut 7-foot-tall okra plants halfway down the stem. In short order, the new shoots popped out and started producing again. This is perfect weather okra-growing weather, and these plants will produce well into fall. So the take-home point for today is that even though it’s hot in the garden right now, start planting your fall vegetables. When it’s time to harvest them, the temperatures will have dropped, and you’ll still be growing and enjoying fresh veggies.

Gary Bachman, Ph.D., Extension/Research Professor of Horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern Gardening” radio and TV programs. He lives in Ocean Springs and is a Singing River Electric member. by Dr. BachmanGary

Kale is a quick-maturing vegetable that is a must-have for fall vegetable gardens.

The secret to successfully growing fall vegetables, like many things, is all about timing.

The secret to successfully growing fall vegetables, like many things, is all about timing. To determine when you should plant, count backward from the average date of the ﬁrst annual hard frost. In Mississippi, there are big differences when this can arrive in coastal and northern counties. Many cool-season veggies can be direct seeded, though I like to start the plants in smaller pots and transplant them. Either way, the process is theYousame.need to know the number of days to harvest, information that is usually found on the seed packet. Count backwards from the frost date and add 10 days, as the plants will grow a little slower in the fall. This tells you when you should plant in your region. Fall is a great time to grow vegetable “sprinters,” or crops that can go from seed to plate in under 30 days.

Root vegetables such as carrots are good choices for fall gardens.

Kevin Tate waits for doves in the sunﬂowers.

It is September again. Somewhere that symphony is playing. Somewhere those pleasures of sweet aromas abound. Somewhere doves are diving from above, accelerating tree-top high with skilled aerobatics, frustrating shotgunners who empty twin tubes or magazines with no reward past an enhanced admiration for the little grey missiles that outperformed shooters’ best. That somewhere is worth finding. Dove season has a rich heritage. It is the first of fall seasons, and the pursuit attracts thousands each year. That attracting translates into gatherings, cook-outs, fellowship, and sharing. Recreation in God’s Creation at its finest. And it should be pointed out, though this is a mundane calculation apart from those fun times that dove hunting — all hunting for that matter — generates millions of dollars that go into management in its various forms, including maintenance and acquisition of lands and other wildlife-related programs.

A September symphony

Hunters who perhaps recall grandpa’s Fox or Parker or L. C. Smith may elect the most graceful conﬁguration of them all, a side-by-side such as this Rizzini 28-gauge.

Cornstalks contributed, their withered leaves and browned stalks serving as the string section, performing a symphony across post-harvest fields. All in well-tuned harmony with autumn’s first hints of arrival. A pleasant breeze serving as bow for cello, viola, and violin, warmth of an afternoon sun the bow’s resin. The percussion? Grasshoppers and other insects chiming, clinking, and buzzing. These were not the overriding portion of this musical jubilance — more the background. Still, the composition would be lacking without their foundation tying meter and measure and downbeat and fermata together to create the perfect whole. The blast from a Blue Jay was the brass. And there were the delightfully endearing smells. Hay fields for the most part, now lying dormant and peaceful, that last mowing of the season behind them. Seeds strewn hither and yon. And to those scattered seeds came the doves. Skydivers of great renown, those doves were. We hunted them in early September.

And quickly: What about shotguns for doves? Most anything will do. The younger will likely lean to synthetic-stocked semis or pumps. Those older among us, those who remember reading Nash Buckingham, will entertain a strong propensity to side-by-sides. To each his own in that regard. Now that I think about it all, Septembers today are not terribly different than Septembers of my youth. Simply put, Septembers are spectacular.

Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives in Carthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com for more information. by Tony Kinton

Septembers were different back then — 1965 and a few years afterward. At least it seems now that they were different then. The cawing of crows possessed a peculiar timbre, a resonance that, when heard in the distance, evoked a sense of tranquility, and of casual indifference. A simple chattering among fellows, allowing no rush to impede the lackadaisical. Just quiet chitchat as the collection removed itself from one location to another. The woodwinds — if this were an orchestra.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 7

8 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022 The horticultureartbetweenintersectionand

Martin said bonsai is not for everybody, but it can be a great“Youhobby.canﬁnd an easy-care tree that ﬁts your skill level. All bonsai are living plants and require maintenance, like watering and other care. Bonsai is not rocket science, or I wouldn’t be doing it,” Martin said.

Martin and business partner McNeal McDonnell operate the largest bonsai nursery in the United States.

The nursery, on Center Hill Road, is powered by Northcentral Electric.When Martin was young, his father — an architect — brought some bonsai back from a business trip to California.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 9

Martin has gone on annual buying trips to Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea where he has friends he has worked with for Brussel’syears.Bonsai mainly sells the trees online.

“You start with trees that have small leaves, short needles, or compact foliage. The value of a bonsai is determined by how well and how long these techniques have been applied,” Martin said.

Brussel’s Bonsai co-owners McNeal McDonnell (left) and Brussel Martin

“I rented an old abandon nursery for a couple years and then bought ﬁve acres next to our current location. McNeal and I built our current location in 2004. It has been enlarged several times.”

You may even think of a small tree with a certain, clipped look. That’s partly correct, according to Brussel Martin, co-owner of Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery in Olive Branch.

by Steven Ward If you hear the terms “bonsai” or “bonsai tree,” thoughts of Mr. Miyagi from “The Karate Kid” might spring to mind.

A typical shipping Monday is anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000Brussel’sorders.has bonsai from two years to 200 years old.

“Bonsai has origins in Asia with Japan having reﬁned it into an art. Bonsai means tree in a pot. Bonsai is a connection of art and horticulture. There is no such thing as a natural bonsai tree. Bonsai is the technique you use to create a tree,” Martin said. The techniques include wiring, trimming, and occasional repotting. Over time, using these techniques, a bonsai develops character.

“One of the cool things about bonsai is being able to hold a mature old tree in your hands.”

“We have our own website but mainly sell through other sites like 1800Flowers, Amazon, Pro Flowers, FTD, Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, and many others. They take the order, send it to us, and we ship directly to the customer. Our geographic location works well for ground shipping to most of the United States. Our packing expertise assures a bonsai arrives to the customer in good condition,” Martin said.

“I was very young, and we had the original trees for several years. I started growing more bonsai in my parent’s back yard as a teenager,” Martin said. When Martin was in his 20s, he outgrew his parents’ back yard.

For more information, visit brusselsbonsai.com or call 1-800-582-2593.

Our Fixed Indexed Annuities include: • Principal and Interest Protection 5 Year 5.75% 4.75% Tired of low CD rates? Current Fixed Rates Year 1 Year 2+ Mike Russell 601-516-0624• Securing your 401k, 403b, IRA, TSP, or CD • Up to 10% Interest Bonus on Day 1 Interest rates are subject to change Our Fixed Indexed Annuities include: • Principal and Interest Protection 5 Year 5.75% 4.75% Tired of low CD rates? Current Fixed Rates Year 1 Year 2+ Mike Russell 601-516-0624• Securing your 401k, 403b, IRA, TSP, or CD • Up to 10% Interest Bonus on Day 1 Interest rates are subject to change ADVERTISE WITH DAD RECIPESFOR THE GRILL RAISING ATCHICKSHOME CAN’T DOWN FORMEMBERSOFCENTRALELECTRICPOWERASSOCIATION CO-OP LINES LIFE IS BETTER WITHSLUGBURGERS PICTURE THIS: DAYGRADUATION SUPER BOWL COMES HOME MEMBERS OF 4-COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION JACKSON AUGUSTCHASING2022 STORMS BLEEDING MAROON AND WHITE COMFORT CASSEROLES TeacheroftheYear FORMEMBERSOFMAGNOLIAELECTRICPOWER Mississippi’s largest circulated publication.

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* Non residents Turkey Hunting on Public Lands: Non-residents cannot hunt any public land in Mississippi between March 15-28 unless drawn for either a Non-resident Public Lands Turkey Permit or WMA Draw Hunt. of MS Hwy. 35. south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35. duck daily bag limit is a total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 redheads. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1 scaup per day Nov. 25 – 27, Dec. 2 – 4, and Dec. 9 – 17; and is 2 scaup per day Dec. 18 – Jan. 31.

HUNTING

Fall turkey season is open BY PERMIT ONLY from October 15 November 15 on private lands in the following counties or portions of counties where the landowner/leaseholder completes a fall turkey hunting application to the MDWFP Jackson Office and receives tags. The fall season bag limit is two (2) turkeys, which may be of either sex.

SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT

****The

For a complete list of hunting seasons, bag limits, and other legal restrictions, go to www.mdwfp.com.

SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT

Southwest Zone: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties.

| SEPTEMBER 2022 circulated publication.

North Central Zone: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, and Union counties.

Spring Turkey

Light Goose Conservation Order Methods: Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. Only snow, blue, and Ross’ geese are eligible for harvest. The use of electronic calls is allowed. The use of unplugged shotguns is allowed. There is no daily or possession limit for snow, blue, or Ross’ geese. Hunters must use non toxic shot. Hunters must possess a valid Mississippi hunting license and a Mississippi state waterfowl stamp. Light goose conservation order hunters do not need a federal duck stamp.

Fall Turkey

The merganser daily bag limit is a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.

Mississippi’s 2022-2023

Delta Zone: Bolivar County - west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties - west of the main Mississippi River levee.

***(Dove South Zone) Areas

SEASONS

Small Game SEASON DATES DAILY BAG LIMIT Youth Squirrel* Sept. 24 30 8 Squirrel - Fall Season Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 8 Squirrel - Spring Season May 15 - June 1 4 Rabbit Oct. 15 - Feb. 28 8 Bobwhite Quail Nov. 24 - Mar. 4 8 Frog April 1 - Sept. 30 25/Night Raccoon July 1 - Sept. 30 1 per Party/Night Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat Oct. 1 - Oct. 31 (Food and sport) Nov. 1 Feb. 28 (Food, sport, and pelt) 5/Day; 8/Party No Limit Trapping Nov. 1 Mar. 15 No Limit *On private lands and authorized state and federal lands only in those areas open for squirrel hunting. Migratory Game Birds SEASON DATES DAILY BAG LIMIT POSSESSION LIMIT Sept. Teal Sept. 10 - Sept. 25 6 18 Sept. Canada Geese* Sept. 1 - Sept. 30 5 15 Woodcock Dec. 18 - Jan. 31 3 9 Snipe Nov. 14 - Feb. 28 8 24 Gallinules (Common & Purple) Sept. 1 - Oct. 2 Nov. 25 Jan. 1 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate Rails: Clapper and King Sept. 1 - Oct. 2 Nov. 25 Jan. 1 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate Rails: Sora and Virginia Sept. 1 - Oct. 2 Nov. 25 - Jan. 1 25 Singly or in aggregate 75 Singly or in aggregate Mourning and White-winged Doves (North Zone)** Sept. 3 - Oct. 14 Nov. 19 - Nov. 27 Dec. 24 - Jan. 31 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate Mourning and White winged Doves (South Zone)*** Sept. 3 - Sept. 18 Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 Dec. 19 - Jan. 31 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate Crows Nov. 5 - Feb. 28 No Limit No Limit Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots**** Nov. 25 - Nov. 27 Dec. 2 - Dec. 4 Dec. 9 Jan. 31 See below**** See below**** Geese: Canada, White fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross’, and Brant Nov. 11 - Nov. 27 Dec. 2 - Dec. 4 Dec. 9 - Jan. 31 Canada Geese : 5 Snow, Blue, & Ross’: 20 White fronted: 3 Brant: 1 Canada Geese : 15 Snow, Blue, & Ross’: No limit White fronted: 9 Brant: 3 Youth, Veterans, and Active Military Waterfowl Days Feb. 4 - 5, 2023 Same as regular season Same as regular season Light Goose Conservation Order***** (Special Permit Needed) Oct. 1 - Nov. 10 Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 Dec. 5 - Dec. 8 Feb. 1 - Feb. 3 Feb. 6 - Mar. 31 No Limit***** No Limit***** *Sept. Canada Goose season is closed on Roebuck Lake in Leflore county. **(Dove North Zone) Areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west

The coot daily bag limit is a total of 15 coots. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.

*****The

Youth (Private and authorized state and federal public lands. Youth 15 and under) Mar. 8 - 14 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any age) per day, 3 per Spring season.Spring Mar. 15 - May 1 Non- Resident (Public Lands) Mar. 15 - 28 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season.

Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except for the Light Goose Conservation Order (see below). Light Goose Conservation Order is a special opportunity designed to reduce the population of overpopulated snow, blue, and Ross’ geese when no other waterfowl seasons are open. This order allows for expanded methods of take that are not allowed during regular waterfowl seasons. To participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit number. Hunters can obtain a permit number by visiting mdwfp.com/waterfowl.

North Central Zone: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, and Union counties.

Spring Turkey

■

A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 12 inches OR one main beam at least 15 inches long. How to estimate a 12 inch inside spread: How to estimate a 15 inch main beam: 12” Inside Spread 15” Main Beam Estimating a 12 inch spread is accomplished by observing a To estimate a 15 inch main beam, the buck’s buck’s ears in the alert position. When in the alert position, head must be observed from the side. If the the distance from ear tip to ear tip measures approximately 15* tip of the main beam extends between the inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler beam reaches the ear tip, front of the eye and the tip of the nose, main the inside spread is approximately 12 inches. (Therefore, if the beam length is approximately 15 inches. outside of both antler beams reach the ear tips, the buck is legal).

Gun (without dogs) Dec. 16 23 Either Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Gun (with dogs) Dec. 24 - Jan. 18 Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

*Due to body size differences in the Delta Unit, ear tip to ear tip measurements are slightly larger compared to the other units.

Youth Season (15 and under) Nov. 5 Nov. 18 Either Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. Nov. 19 - Jan. 31 Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.

Fall Turkey

SEASON DATES

Jan. 19 - 31 Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

■ Antlered Buck Deer:

Antlerless Deer: Private lands: The statewide annual bag limit on antlerless deer is ﬁve (5). The antlerless bag limit for private lands in the North Central DMU is ten (10) antlerless deer per season. Antlerless deer are male or female deer which do not have hardened antler above the natural hairline. Only two (2) antlerless deer may be harvested from the Southeast Unit. There is no daily bag limit on antlerless deer in the Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest, and Delta units. Only one (1) antlerless deer per day may be harvested in the Southeast DMU.

BAG LIMITS

Non- Resident (Public Lands) Mar. 15 - 28 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season.

WHITE-TAILED DEER

Archery/Primitive Weapon

SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT Fall turkey season is open BY PERMIT ONLY from October 15 November 15 on private lands in the following counties or portions of counties where the landowner/leaseholder completes a fall turkey hunting application to the MDWFP Jackson Office and receives tags. The fall season bag limit is two (2) turkeys, which may be of either sex.

DELTA UNIT

METHOD SEASON DATES

LEGAL DEER Archery Sept. 16 - 18 Legal Bucks Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required. Oct. 15 - Nov. 18 Either-Sex on private and open public land. Youth Season (15 and under) Nov. 5 Nov. 18 Either Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. Nov. 19 - Feb. 15 Either Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria. Gun (with dogs) Nov. 19 Dec. 1 Either Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

North Central Zone: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, and Union counties.

Archery Sept. 16 - 18 Legal Bucks Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required.

Oct. 1 Nov. 18 Either Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF

Primitive Weapon Dec. 2 - 15 Either Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

SOUTHEAST UNIT

Primitive Weapon

Feb. 1 - 15 Legal Bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Youth (Private and authorized state and federal public lands. Youth 15 and under) Mar. 8 - 14 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any age) per day, 3 per Spring season.Spring Mar. 15 - May 1 Non- Resident (Public Lands) Mar. 15 - 28 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season.

Fall Turkey

SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT

Antlerless Primitive Weapon Nov. 7 18 Antlerless Deer Only on private lands. Gun (with dogs) Nov. 19 - Dec. 1 Either Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

U.S. Forest Service National Forests: The bag limit is one (1) per day, not to exceed ﬁve (5) per annual season except in the Southeast Unit, which is two (2) per annual season.

DELTA, NORTHEAST, NORTH CENTRAL, EAST CENTRAL, AND SOUTHWEST UNITS METHOD SEASON DATES

BAG LIMIT

Delta Zone: Bolivar County - west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties - west of the main Mississippi River levee.

Southwest Zone: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties.

The statewide bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day and three (3) per annual season. One (1) of these three (3) may have hardened antlers that do not meet the unit legal antler requirements on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. For youth hunters ﬁfteen (15) years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all three (3) of the three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer. Antlered buck bag limit in the North Central Deer Management Unit (DMU) is one (1) buck per day and four (4) per annual season. No antler restrictions apply to this DMU. All four bucks may have any sized hardened antlers.

DEER ZONES

Gun (without dogs) Dec. 16 - 23 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Gun (with dogs) Dec. 24 - Jan. 18 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Spring NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Fall turkey season is open BY PERMIT ONLY from October 15 November 15 on private lands in the following counties or portions of counties where the landowner/leaseholder completes a fall turkey hunting application to the MDWFP Jackson Office and receives tags. The fall season bag limit is two (2) turkeys, which may be of either sex.

Delta Zone: Bolivar County - west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties - west of the main Mississippi River levee.

Youth (Private and authorized state and federal public lands. Youth 15 and under) Mar. 8 - 14 One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any age) per day, 3 per Spring season.Spring Mar. 15 - May 1

SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT

LEGAL DEER

Dec. 2 - 15 Either-Sex on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Archery/Primitive Weapon Jan. 19 - 31 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Spring Turkey

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Your Annual Meeting for Pearl River Valley Electric is one of the deﬁning aspects of your electric cooperative which separates it from other forms of business. As a member of Pearl River Valley Electric, you are given the ability and the responsibility to have a say in your power company’s affairs. You are instrumental in the direction of your cooperative, and I encourage you to be active and informed and to attend our annual membership meeting on September 24, 2022.

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Cooperative Energy’s strategy to generate electricity is to use a broad mix of fuels — including coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, and other renewable sources — which helps keep costs as low as possible. Finding new, cost-effective ways to meet our wholesale power needs is a continuing priority and your PRVEPA Board will be closely watching developments throughout the industry.

PEARLCOMM FIBER

PRVEPA is a member-owner of Cooperative Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative. This arrangement ensures us of having our wholesale power delivered on a not-for-proﬁt basis.

• Visit

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Purchasing wholesale power accounts for nearly 68 percent of our overall cost of providing electric service to members.

ANNUAL MEETING

Last year, Pearl River Valley Electric embarked on its most ambitious project since it began electrifying homes and businesses in 1938. The launch of our internet subsidiary, PearlComm Fiber, has set our cooperative on an entirely new path, which is the connection of our service territory to the world through high-speed fiber internet. For far too long our area has had to endure slow or non-existent internet. Last summer, fiber lines began being built and PearlComm Fiber is getting ready to complete its Phase 1 areas including Foxworth, South Columbia, Columbia and Maxie. This commitment to service that began with Pearl River Valley Electric in 1938 is fueling PearlComm Fiber in 2022. Members in our Phase 1 areas are already beginning to enjoy the benefits of high-speed internet. With over 1,000 members connected and lots of positive feedback, we are pleased with the company’s success. Your board is proud to have played a part in the creation of PearlComm Fiber and is excited to see the results of its work in the future.

While we have lots of uncertainty in our future, the one thing that is for certain is that your cooperative is stronger than ever as we prepare to enter 2023. For over 84 years, our cooperative has grown and adapted to the ever-changing world, and as president of your Association, I am proud to present this report for your consideration. 601-736-2666 601-264-2458 601-794-8051 601-928-7277 owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference. us at www.PRVEPA.com. (855-277-8372)

This year, we have seen a turbulent economy due to inflation and supply shortages, and I’m sure that many members are worried about how this will affect their power bill. While inflation is causing almost everything to rise in price, the electric power industry has kept price increases low. In fact, costs for electricity nationwide have only increased 2.1% from 2016-2021. To put that in perspective, cable and satellite TV, along with the cost of rent have increased 3.3%. Unfortunately, these numbers don’t reflect the recent bout of inflation that is hitting our country. Pearl River Valley Electric has seen the price of everything rise significantly, including the cost of poles, wire and other materials. In addition, we have had to work extensively to secure materials that are in short supply. Rest assured that your board is doing everything it can to keep costs down, while not sacrificing the quality of service you’ve come to expect. Despite all these challenges, we are confident that Pearl River Valley Electric will continue to show growth in the future.

WHOLESALE POWER COSTS

PRESIDENT’S REPORT • DANNY WILKS • 14 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022 COLUMBIA:

Member

September

The following is from the annual audit dated December 31, 2021:

Annual Mee ng

REGULAR PATRONAGE RETURN

Your Board of Directors is dedicated to the principle of returning patronage capital to our member-owners — in fact, we were the ﬁrst electric power association in Mississippi to start paying regular patronage returns. Patronage capital, or capital credits, represents members’ investment in their not-for-proﬁt electric cooperative. Each year, rates are set so that the Association has enough funding to operate throughout the year, and any year-end revenue above the cost of providing electric service is assigned to members as margins based on their share of electricity use. A portion of those margins is then returned to members each August. This year, we returned $4.1 million to our members. We have now made patronage returns to our memberowners for 59 years, totaling nearly $67 million. Very few electric cooperatives in the nation can surpass our record of paying patronage returns to their members.

All members of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association are invited to attend the annual meeting of members on Saturday, September 24. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lawrence Building at 1428 Highway 13 N., Columbia, MS 39429. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. As a member of Pearl River Valley Electric, your participation at the annual meeting is vital. At the annual meeting members vote to elect directors, hear reports covering the operation of the Association and to transact other business that may come before the meeting.

13 attendance prizes,

SECRETARY-TREASURER’S2021. REPORT •

The Association’s records and accounts were audited by Topp, McWhorter, Harvey, PLLC, Certiﬁed Public Accountants. The report was complimentary of your CEO/General Manager and staff. It also showed the records and accounts in excellent condition and that the Association is in a ﬁnancially strong condition.

prizes.

• Assets total $282,339,813, which reﬂects an increase of $21,500,580 for the year.

In 1988, your Board of Directors started a program where we return the accumulated patronage capital to the estates of deceased members. In addition, a program for offering discounted capital credit refunds to former members was initiated in 2016. We have returned more than $17.4 million through these programs, including $1,029,707 in W.A. KENDRICK

PATRONAGE RETURNS TO DECEASED AND FORMER MEMBERS

absentee prizes. SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 15

•

INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF THREE DIRECTORS TO THREE-YEAR TERMS: District 1 • Danny Wilks (Nominated by Nominating Committee) District 4 • Jack Bradshaw (Nominated by Nominating Committee) District 9 • Lavell Bond (Nominated by Nominating Committee)

PRVEPA will award including must be present at the meeting to be eligible for the attendance If you cannot attend the meeting, mail in your annual meeting ballot today. By returning your ballot, you are eligible for the

a $1,000 certiﬁcate for electricity. You

24, 2022

• The member-owners of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association have equity of 36.8% in the system.

• Total electric plant increased $10,369,061, bringing the total to $192,685,697.

PearlComm, through lots of planning and hard work, began connecting customers in March. Since the summer of 2021, they have been diligently working to bring high-speed internet to Phase 1 areas of Foxworth, South Columbia, Columbia, and Maxie. The initial goal was to connect members in the fall of 2021, however supply chain issues and contract crews leaving for hurricane restoration caused delays. Despite these setbacks, PearlComm was able to connect its first customer on March 16. To honor this milestone, a celebration was held at the home of the first customer, Shirley Pittman. Mrs. Pittman, from Foxworth, is emblematic of the PRVEPA members PearlComm is working to reach with high-speed internet. She was suffering from unreliable, slow internet service and was unable to connect with relatives and friends from across the country. Now, she can Facetime with her family and friends and does not have to worry about a poor connection. I know that we will hear more stories like hers as PearlComm Fiber connects more customers each day. Since connecting its first customers, PearlComm Fiber has been growing exponentially. By the middle of April, they had reached their 100th customer and by mid-June their 500th customer. By the end of year, PearlComm Fiber expects to have around 3,000 customers.

Pearl River Valley Electric strives to offer a variety of online tools to help you in your busy life. We also offer programs to help our members further their education and broaden the horizons of our youth.

Maintaining reliable service to our members requires continual planning and upgrading of our lines and equipment. In 2021, our crews add nearly 50 miles of new overhead and underground lines to our system, which has 6,216 miles of lines and 24 substations throughout our 12-county service area.

CEO/GENERAL MANAGER REPORT • MATTHEW WARE •

All our employees are committed to working safely. They have adopted a full-time culture of safety and strive to work accident free each day. An effective safety program not only ensures the well-being of employees, but it also saves your Association money.

SAFETY

ONLINE TOOLS: Through our website, www.prvepa.com, you can access EmPowered, our customer portal. Through EmPowered you can pay your bill, access your energy use history, and report outages. Our website also houses a Help Center which contains

PEARLCOMM FIBER REACHES MILESTONES

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND OUTAGES

For 2021, the number of meters served by the Association increased 1.59% from 51,145 to 51,960 while our annual sales of electricity — 1,033,319,279 kilowatt hours (kWh) — were about 2.9% above 2020.

SYSTEM GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT

16 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

Pearl River Valley Electric has an excellent outage record that is well below the national average. Typically, our members experience very few outages lasting only short amounts of time, which is remarkable when you consider that electric service is a 24/7 commodity. However, despite our best efforts to provide excellent service, we are still at the mercy of severe weather. Along with our ROW maintenance, we continue to implement a pole inspection program to change out bad poles that could possibly cause power outages. As always, over the past year we also replaced, upgraded, or retired equipment and facilities as needed.

As a cooperative, we have experienced a variety of challenges over the course of the last couple of years. Along with everyone else, we have worked through a world-wide pandemic, and now we ﬁnd ourselves maneuvering through supply chain issues and historic inﬂation. While it is easy to focus on the negative, we have had lots of exciting and positive things happen for Pearl River Valley Electric in the last year. I am proud to share these accomplishments with you.

Pearl River Valley Electric has been continually working to make sure that its sister company, PearlComm Fiber, has the materials it needs to provide high-speed internet to our members. The fiber that is going up on the poles is owned by Pearl River Valley Electric and is vital to our infrastructure. In addition to supplying internet service, the fiber helps create a smart grid which allows for a two-way flow of electricity and information. The fiber allows us to monitor our infrastructure and make our entire system work more efficiently and effectively.

MEMBER PROGRAMS

RIGHT-OF-WAY TRIMMING Right-of-way (ROW) trimming is an essential part of our maintenance program. Our goal is to rotate through our entire system every 10 years, which means we trim nearly 500 miles of ROWThisannually.yearwe used a combination of trimming and cutting trees along with the application of economical and environmentally friendly herbicides. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and reliable system for our members.

I know that many of you feel nervous and uncertain about our economy and the state of our world. However, rest assured that your electric cooperative is doing everything it can to keep electricity affordable and reliable while introducing new programs to help our communities. That is our commitment to you. I welcome the opportunity to talk with you about any concern that you may have about Pearl River Valley Electric. My door is always open, and I appreciate member feedback. The last year has been an extremely successful year for your cooperative, and we have big plans for the future. Thank you.

CEO/General Manager by Matthew Ware

In October, we held our first Cooperative University, which is now the first step in our Youth Leadership Program, sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi. Nineteen students from 11 school and home school programs sent students to the Columbia National Guard Armory on October 26, 2021. The University was a day-long event that included leadership and team building exercises and speakers from Pearl River Valley Electric, the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, and Cooperative Energy. Students were able to take part in linemen exercises and discussed important topics with area legislators. Judges interviewed all 19 students and chose two winners to represent PRVEPA. This year’s winners were Abigail Hammons and Connor Gibson of Oak Grove High School. We are extremely proud of both of our students. Abigail and Connor took part in a leadership workshop held in Jackson, by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi. While there, both were interviewed by a panel of judges for the position of Youth Leadership Council member on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s National Youth Leadership Council. Abigail was chosen as a finalist, and Connor was chosen to be Mississippi’s representative on the council. As a council member, Connor will travel to Biloxi to attend the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Annual Meeting in September. While serving on the council, he will speak to a group of 350 attendees at the annual business session. In addition, he will attend the NRECA Annual Meeting in Nashville in March 2023. At this meeting, he will meet members from across the United States and will be recognized for his achievements. After completion of his duties, Gibson will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

COOPERATIVE UNIVERSITY A SUCCESS

@MYPRVEPA It’s important for our members to stay informed, especially during severe weather and large-scale events like the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, we use our Facebook and Twitter pages to supply up-to-date information. These sites are meant to educate and inform our members about our cooperative. During large scale outages, we can update you about restoration efforts. In addition, these sites will be used to alert members to important information such as scam alerts, program and policy information, and news about the positive impact your cooperative is having in the community. These sites aren’t monitored 24/7, so we ask that you refrain from posting outage notiﬁcations.

Pearl River Valley Electric is excited for the future of these two outstanding students, and we look forward to selecting two more representatives at this year’s Cooperative University in October. If you are interested in more information, please visit our website www.prvepa.com.

all our information from bill payment options to energy efﬁciency brochures.

While our website is our ﬂagship for communication, we also understand that much of our member’s work is done on mobile devices. We offer a mobile app that offers similar services to our website. You can access the app by searching for “PRVEPA” in your app store. It is free.

In June, Abigail and Connor joined thousands of other students from around the country to attend the National Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. While there they had the opportunity to meet their lawmakers, tour Washington, D.C. and do lots of other sightseeing.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 17

AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU

One area where we are proud to serve our members is through our facilitation of the Round Up for Education Program. Over the last nine years, our members have helped 1,838 students achieve their dreams of higher education. Since the programs creation our members have helped raise more than $1.8 million. This program is truly a perfect example of how a member-owned cooperative can help the areas we serve. This year we are on track to help nearly 200 students receive scholarships. Each will receive $500 to help them at their Mississippi community college of choice.

ROUND UP FOR EDUCATION

COOPERATIVE UNIVERSITY TO BE HELD OCTOBER 11

1,000TH CUSTOMER 18 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

Every year, Pearl River Valley Electric chooses two students to represent the cooperative at a leadership workshop in Jackson and for a week-long tour of Washington, D.C. in June. Pearl River Valley Electric’s Cooperative University is the ﬁrst step in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Youth Leadership Program which has been going for 36 years. The Cooperative University is a one-day event where each school within PRVEPA’s service territory will be represented by two students. Each student is expected to attend the all-day event in its entirety. The day will consist of speakers, games, lunch and various demonstrations. This year’s Cooperative University will be held on Oct. 11 at the National Guard Armory in Columbia, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding by 3:30 p.m. At PRVEPA’s Cooperative University, students will learn about Pearl River Valley Electric and what it means to be a member. They will learn how electric cooperatives began, how electricity is produced and much more. Each student will also participate in an interview process, by a panel of judges, to be one of two students chosen for the leadership program.

“We ﬁnally have fast internet!” said Rick Carney. “Living in a rural area has limited our internet use. We haven’t been able to stream movies or pretty much do anything. We are excited to get some updated electronics including a security system that we can run off our Wi-Fi.”

Pearl River Valley Electric is excited to have area high school juniors participate in our Youth Leadership Program. If you are an 11th grader served by Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, check with your guidance counselor about this life-changing program.

PearlComm ﬁber estimates that it could connect its 3,000th customer by the end of the year.

PearlComm Fiber Celebrates

Homeschooled students are also encouraged to apply. Please call 601-731-7830 for more information.

High-speed ﬁber internet is becoming a reality in rural areas throughout Pearl River Valley Electric’s service territory thanks to its sister company PearlComm Fiber. Recently, PearlComm celebrated its 1,000th customer from the Columbia area. The Carney family were connected in August and are now experiencing lighting fast internet, that is among the fastest and most robust in the nation.

“To connect our 1,000th customer to world-class ﬁber that allows our rural residents to have access to the same connection that you would ﬁnd anywhere in the world, is a game-changer,” Matthew Ware, President/CEO of PearlComm Fiber said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of the solution to close the digital divide for Mississippians.”

PRVEPA launched its 4,700 mile fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project and fiber subsidiary, PearlComm Fiber, in 2021. Since connecting its first customer in March, the internet company has seen tremendous growth throughout its Phase 1 areas of Foxworth, South Columbia, Columbia, and Maxie.

• taco, barbecue, and soy sauces

Before an outage

A good rule of thumb is to keep an emergency supply kit on hand. Be sure to include nonperishable food items like bottled water, powdered milk, canned goods, cereal, and protein bars in your emergency kit.

If you have advance warning that an outage is possible, ﬁll a cooler with ice — just in case the outage spans several hours. Having a cooler ready to go can buy extra time for your refrigerated, perishable items.

While most perishable foods should be thrown out after an extended outage, there are a few items that are safe to consume after a two-hour exposure to 40+ degrees:

• peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup, and relish The best way to avoid illness from spoiled food during or after an outage is to follow the four-hour rule of thumb. After an outage, always smell and inspect foods before consuming and remember: when in doubt, throw it out.

If refrigerated foods have been exposed to temperatures higher than 40 degrees for more than two hours, the American Red Cross recommends discarding the items. If any foods have an unusual color, odor, or texture, they should be thrown away.

Extended power outages are rare, but when they occur, it’s important to understand food safety measures to take to avoid illness.

If an outage occurs, do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours. If it looks like the power outage will last longer than four hours, move your important perishable items to an ice-ﬁlled cooler.

To learn more about food safety after an emergency, visit www.ready.gov/food

Severe winds, lightning, and even squirrels can temporarily cause the power to go out. We understand power outages of any length can be frustrating, especially when your fridge is stocked with perishable foods.

by Abby Berry

Here are a few food safety tips to keep in mind before, during, and after a power outage.

• hard cheeses that are properly wrapped

During an outage

• butter or margarine that is properly wrapped

A er an outage

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 19

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Photos by Chad Calote Tyler Cleveland, left, holds a photo of his grandfather Robert “Ace” Cleveland. Rick Cleveland, right, holds a photo of himself and brother Bobby Cleveland.

20 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

FOR THREE GENERATIONS HAS BEEN TELLING SPORTS STORIES MISSISSIPPI’S

Three generations of writers

His daddy had driven him from Hattiesburg to his ﬁ rst assignment, a football game in Lucedale, and he had a deadline to Aboutmake.

“I can’t get started,” said Rickey, who had decided at age 12 — when he “learned he couldn’t hit a curve ball and had no chance to play in the Major Leagues” — to do what his daddy did. What he heard next would be advice the most award-winning sports writer in Mississippi history, who turns 70 in October, still uses to this day.

20 minutes had passed when “Ace,” a semipro baseball-player-turned sports writer, came back to the kitchen to ﬁx a drink and check on his son.

“Well, if I was you, I would just start writing it like you would tell it toSo,somebody.”whatwould that advice look like for this story?

If ever there was a dynasty in sports writing, Mississippi’s Cleveland family is it. Since 1946, the Cleveland name has been on a byline from every nook and cranny of the state. And beyond. by Tammy Ramsdell he 13-year-old boy sat at the kitchen table with a sheet of paper in the Underwood typewriter his daddy had bought him. He had two lines typed: By Rickey HattiesburgClevelandAmerican

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 21

sports

Robert Hayes “Ace” Cleveland, a World War II veteran and Hattiesburg native, was inducted posthumously into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for sports writing in 1998. He started his career as sports editor of the Hattiesburg American. (He told the editor, who was covering one of his games, that he could write better than the sports editor. It was vintage Ace, and it wasn’t long before he was offered the job.)

Robert Hayes “Bobby” Cleveland Jr. worked offshore on oil rigs and as a bartender before starting to cover games while a student at “IUSM.think he started writing mostly for beer money, but he was instantly good at it. He was a natural,” Rick said of his younger brother.

“Those games are often magical.” He’s always wanted to cover the Kentucky Derby. Never has. He and wife Liz, who live in Jackson, have two children, Tyler, 36, and Annie, 33, a second-year law student at Tulane University. One more thing of note. Rick didn’t always take his daddy’s advice. If he had, he never would have become a sports writer. Low pay. Grueling hours. Nights and weekends away from family. “Dad tried to talk me out of it.”

Later Ace did a stint at the Jackson Daily News before joining what is now The University of Southern Mississippi, where he was sports information director for 31 years. The press box at M.M. Roberts Stadium is named in his honor. He and wife Carrie had two sons, Rick and Robert Hayes “Bobby” Jr. Rick Cleveland was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for sports writing in 2017. He was the sports editor of the Hattiesburg American then spent nearly 33 years at The Clarion Ledger in Jackson. He spent four years at the helm of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum before joining the online news outlet Mississippi Today in 2016. He has written four books and covered 25 Super Bowls, several Masters tournaments, the 1996 Olympic games, a couple of U.S. Opens, more bowl games than he can count, and the Mississippi State and Ole Miss College World Series championships.Hisfavoriteevent, though, remains the State 1A football championship.

Tyler Cleveland, senior reporter and editor of the online site Scorebook Live, writes, edits and plans coverage that includes every high school in the state. He has worked for several papers, including the Hattiesburg American and The Clarion Ledger. Like the Clevelands before him, he earned his degree at USM. A little over a year ago, he teamed up with his dad for a weekly podcast, “Crooked Letter Sports.”

22 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

Tammy Ramsdell, an award-winning reporter and editor, has been writing for more than 40 years. The South Dakota native, who’s learned to like grits and sweet tea, lives in Jackson.

I’ve done some radio work and know what will play on the air and what won’t, and he’s the encyclopedia of Mississippiknowledge.sports

“It’s actually the ﬁrst time we’ve ever worked together, which is cool,” Tyler said. They both bring a lot to the table. “I’ve done some radio work and know what will play on the air and what won’t, and he’s the encyclopedia of Mississippi sports knowledge,” Tyler said. But if Tyler had listened to his dad, they wouldn’t be doing the podcast.“Itried like hell to talk him out of it (journalism), because I could see what was happening to newspapers,” Rick said. “I had no more luck than my daddy did with Bobby and me.”

Bobby’s ﬁshing and hunting expertise — he even met wife Pam at a bait shop — paired with a classic Cleveland family sense of humor made him a favorite among Clarion Ledger readers over the years. The award-winning writer later worked as a freelancer and then for the Ross Barnett Reservoir and Pearl River Valley Water SupplyWhenDistrict.Bobby, 67, died from injuries suffered in an auto accident April 28, a petition was started to rename the reservoir in his honor. He had long advocated for a name change, given the reservoir’s namesake former Gov. Ross Barnett’s segregationist stance. On July 21, the Reservoir Board of Directors voted to change the name of Lakeshore Park to Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore.

Adam Ganucheau, editor-in-chief of Mississippi Today, said Rick’s writing inspired him to become a journalist. Now, the 30-year-old is Rick’s boss — and still learning from him. He also has high praise for Tyler.

From typewriters to laptops, print to digital, and a massive number of layoffs along the way, the Clevelands have persevered through incredible change in journalism.Butthat shouldn’t come as a surprise. When you’re part of a dynasty, it’s what you do. journalism.

Archie Manning, Tim Floyd on the Clevelands

Persevering through the changing landscape of journalism

Ace was the writer, Floyd said Carrie’s inﬂuence shouldn’t be underestimated. She was sensitive, he said, to how words affected people’s “Assassination,”lives.

“My ﬁrst year, coming out of Ole Miss,” Manning said, brought a lot of attention from the media and fans as he entered training camp with the New Orleans Saints in Hattiesburg. “Ace took good care of Overme.” the years, Manning developed a deep respect for Rick, who wrote stories not only about him, but sons Peyton and Eli. “I cherish his friendship,” he said, describing Rick as a remarkable historian of Mississippi sports. Floyd said Ace and wife Carrie were like “second parents to me growing up.” He and Rick have remained fast friends for more than 60 years. They met when Floyd’s dad Lee was basketball coach at WhileUSM.

“High school sports is quite literally everything for so many Mississippians. He’s one of the few telling those important stories,” Ganucheau said. “It’s right up Cleveland alley.”

Floyd said, has never been in the playbook for any of the Clevelands, calling it “a beautiful part of the legacy of theInfamily.”fact,he said, he often sees Rick’s mother in his writing. There’s a reason for that. It’s his mother he often has in mind when he writes, Rick said. “She was a huge sports fan, but she didn’t give a rat’s ass about the x’s and o’s. She was into it because of the people and the pageantry and the passion inherent in sports.”

Ace was the sports information director at USM when Manning ﬁrst met him. He was a real “character,” Manning said, “a lot of fun.” But it was his personal treatment of athletes that stays with him.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 23

Both Archie Manning, who knows a thing or two about sons following in their father’s footsteps, and Tim Floyd, who coached several high-proﬁle college basketball teams and followed Phil Jackson as the coach of the Chicago Bulls, call the contributions of the Clevelands immeasurable. They have championed Mississippi sports at every level with a commitment to accuracy and fairness, a sense of compassion and an abundance of wit.

And we think you’re going to love ours. As a member of an electric cooperative, you can help guide our future as we efﬁciently deliver affordable, reliable and safe energy.

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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicle (EV) sales doubled from 2020 to 2021, reaching a record high of 608,000 sales. Sales of internal combustion engine vehicles grew by only 3% the sameTheyear.number of EVs on the road will continue to grow over the next ﬁve to 10 years, and many brands have pledged to convert to manufacturing only EVs within the next three to 12 years. Part of this sales growth stems from more choices in the EV market. Today, more than 80 base models of sedans, SUVs and minivans are available. The number of automakers that are exclusively manufacturing plug-in vehicles is also increasing, from recognizable brands like Tesla to growing brands like Rivian, Polestar, Karma and Lucid. Ford introduced its now sold-out F-150 Lightning in April and is already taking orders for 2023. While the EV market is growing, it has some challenges to overcome before broader adoption takes place. The upfront cost of an EV is more expensive than a comparable gas-powered vehicle, and many EVs are limited to a driving range of 250 miles on average — though there are exceptions. Some automakers offer EV models with ranges over 300 miles and a handful are approaching 400. Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan offer EV models that are priced around $30,000, and available federal tax credits can bring the initial costs down considerably. EV range numbers are approaching those of a tank of gas, but EVs require more time to charge compared to a gas-powered vehicle’s quick ﬁll-up. Even at the fastest charging level, it takes approximately 20 minutes to charge 80% capacity. This makes EVs suitable for daily driving needs like commuting or running errands but less suitable for longer road trips.

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 27

Access to publicly available charging stations is not as plentiful or as geographically accessible as gas stations, which makes using an EV for an extended road trip less straightforward. However, The Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy have teamed up to offer grants to help states and local partners, including electric cooperatives, to develop a national charging network with EV chargers located every 50 miles on interstates. The goal is to place EV chargers where they make the most sense in terms of business or recreational activities. National parks, convenience stores and local businesses could be popular stops for EV charging.

Compared to a standard wall outlet, charging times can be shortened by using a Level 2 charger. Level 1 chargers are the standard charger that come with an EV and provide about 40 miles of range after eight hours of charging. Level 2 chargers provide about 25 miles per charging hour. They consume a lot of power over a short amount of time and require local electric infrastructure to support the increased energy load. If you’re considering a Level 2 charger, make sure your home’s electrical system is in good shape and give your electric co-op a heads up.

Katherine Loving writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. by Katherine Loving

Electric vehicle sales continue to climb. Ford introduced its now sold-out F-150 Lightning in April and is already taking orders for 2023. Photo Credit: Ford Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan offer EV models that are priced around $30,000, and available federal tax credits can bring the initial costs down considerably. Photo Credit: Nissan

3INGREDIENTScupsdicedcooked chicken

1 cup half and half 1⁄3 cup sherry

with Martha Hall Foose Chicken Divan, an old school staple of the potluck, might seem to be not much in fashion these days. But I can assure you it will be a hit at a luncheon or dinner. The sherry gives it a sophisticated pop of ﬂavor and a rotisserie chicken makes a short prep time. This casserole freezes wonderfully either baked or not baked and can go straight from the freezer to the oven. Just increase the baking time by 20 minutes.

¼ cup ﬁnely cut green onions

Chicken Divan

1 cup cooked rice

1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of broccoli soup

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese plus 2 tablespoons for topping

1 cup crushed Ritz cracker crumbs

28 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

2 (10-ounce) packages frozen broccoli ﬂorets

1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

2 tablespoons melted butter

Butter a 2-quart baking dish and heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine the chicken, soups, broccoli, onions, half and half, sherry, rice, and 2 cups of cheese. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. In a small bowl mix the crumbs and butter. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the casserole then sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake 45 minutes or until bubbly. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6

3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose ﬂour

Lazy cinnamon rolls

These super cinnamon-spiced, gooey (in the best sense of the word), icing-drenched rolls may be thought of as a breakfast treat. Really though, these are good 24/7.

Dashes of ground ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom, if desired Yields 9 large rolls

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

One of the things that makes these so fantastic is that this dough is very forgiving. Some recipes do require precise measurements when baking. This one is a throw it together and know it’s going to be delicious kind of deal.

Cover with a damp dishtowel and set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size. Takes about an hour. Roll dough into a 12 x 22-inch rectangle. Spread all the way to the edges. Using a serrated knife, cut into 9 rounds. Place the rolls in the prepared pan and cover loosely with wrap. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Allow rolls to rise until just about doubled in size. Pour remaining evaporated milk over the rolls. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and all the milk has been absorbed.

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 packet rapid-rise yeast

½ cups powdered sugar

1 large egg 1⁄3 cup evaporated milk (reserve remaining for soaking and icing)

¼ cup evaporated milk

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 29

Tiny pinch of salt SPREAD

½ cup dark brown sugar

¼ cup warm water

Martha Hall Foose, the author of “Screen Doors & Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales of a Southern Cook,” won the James Beard Award for American Cooking. Her latest collaboration is “A Good Meal is Hard to Find: Storied Recipes from the Deep South” with Amy C. Evans. Martha makes her home in the Mississippi Delta with her husband and son. She is a member of Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association. by Martha Hall Foose

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1ICING

The reason for the organic powdered sugar is because it usually contains tapioca starch instead of the corn starch most conventional powdered sugars use to keep the sugar from clumping. You can get up super early and make these knowing full well they are going to need to rise for at least an hour and a half, or shape them the night before. Then just pop them in the fridge and set them to rise while the coffee is brewing.

INGREDIENTS

2⁄3 cup very softened butter

1⁄3 cup very softened butter

A couple of pantry items that can be kept on hand are key elements. The ﬁrst is evaporated milk, and the second is organic powdered sugar. The reason for evaporated milk is — well, it’s just so easy to have around. Soaking the rolls prior to baking insures a tremendous amount of gooeyness.

¼ cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Place on a rack to cool 10 minutes. Spoon icing over the warm rolls.

In a 2-cup measuring cup combine the water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface and let hydrate for 5 minutes. Whisk together and set aside until foamy about 8 to 10 more minutes. Butter an 8-inch baking dish and set aside. Whisk in the egg, 1⁄3 cup evaporated milk, vanilla, and 2⁄3 cup softened butter. In a large bowl, sift in 3 ½ cups ﬂour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Add the yeast mixture to the ﬂour and stir until well combined. The dough will be lumpy but that’ll be alright. Let sit for 5 minutes. Knead the dough a few minutes until it is smooth.

Splash of vanilla extract

Sponsored by Jus’ Jesus Ministries, Incorporated of Lucedale. Space is limited. Details: 601-770-1447. grin ‘n’ bare it Email to news@ecm.coop. subject to

Byrd’s Chapel Annual Fall Festival. Oct. 29. Carriere. Crafts, food, and auction. 26 Byrd’s Chapel Road. Details: Pam Farr at 601-799-6606 or Mae Smith at 607-875-9008. Holy Land Trip. Nov. 25 to Dec. 4. Ronnie and Beverly Cottingham are hosting a trip to the Holy Land. This will be their 20th time to host trips to “the land of the Bible.” If you’ve ever dreamed of literally walking where our Lord walked, this trip is for you.

co-op southerninvolvementgardeningmississippiseen outdoorsmytodayopinionon the menu mississippimississippimarketplaceis... scene around the ‘sip picture this Events open to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Submit details at least two months prior to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication.

The Gulf Coast Military Collectors & Antique Arms Show. Oct. 28 and 29. Biloxi. Historical artifacts from all periods and wars — Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam bought, sold, traded, and exhibited. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 29. Joppa Shriners’ Center, 13280 Shriner’s Blvd. Take I-10 exit 41 (Wool Market/Shriner’s Blvd.) between Biloxi and Gulfport. Go north to the 4-way stop, then continue north 1/4 mile to the Joppa Shriner’s Center on the right. Admission is $7. Details: 228-224-1120.

Events are

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events

3rd Annual Faery Court Masquerade Ball. Sept. 24. Biloxi. Court of the Dark Fae Wildlife Fundraiser. Costume or formal attire required. Immersive event based on Venetian tradition, fantasy stories, Celtic faery and goblin lore, and stories of fantasy and wonder. Between the sea and the land, under the ancient live oak trees, between the worlds, the veil is open for one night. 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, 2244 Beach Blvd. Limited VIP tickets $70 or table of 8, $500.General admission pre-sales tickets $45. General admission at the door tickets $55. Details: Faery-ball.com or call 228-280-3461.

30 TODAY | SEPTEMBER 2022

The World of Marty Stuart. Now through the end of the year. Jackson. The exhibit will debut at the Two Mississippi Museums downtown. “The World of Marty Stuart” explores Stuart’s life and his legacy of collecting country music’s stories. The exhibit includes hundreds of items never shown before in Mississippi, including Marty’s ﬁrst guitar, original handwritten Hank Williams manuscripts, guitars from Merle Haggard and Pops Staples, costumes from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, personal items from Johnny Cash, including his ﬁrst black performance suit, and much more. 222 North St. No. 1206. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 601-576-6934. Mossy Oak Show & Shine Cruise. Sep. 3. West Point. Mossy Oak Mall. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. $20 entry fee. Cash prizes. Fundraiser for St Jude Hospital. Presented by Southern Cruisers Car Club of Mississippi. Details: 662-574-2678. Waynesboro Farmers Market. Sep. 3 and Oct. 1. Waynesboro. A free event for vendors and patrons. Livestock, produce, canned goods, baked goods, and crafts. 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. 3849 Hwy 63. Details: 601-410-1001.

Clarke Fest. Sept. 24. Quitman. Clarke County Chamber of Commerce’s annual fundraiser will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Archusa Water Park. The event will feature the Paul Brown Memorial Car Show, a bass tournament, arts and crafts vendors, non-proﬁt booths, food vendors, kids area, and entertainment all day. Admission is $1 at the gate. Details: 601-776-5701.

Turkey shoots. Sept. 24, Nov. 12, and Dec. 17. Jackson County. Shoots begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Daisy Masonic Lodge No. 421, 25700 School House Road. Vestry. Drive 14 miles north of Vancleave off Hwy 57. Details: 228-383-2669. Bluegrass in the Park. Oct. 22. Quitman. Sponsored by Friends of Clarkco State Park. Entertainment will include Bound & Determined of Northport, Alabama, Answered Prayer Gospel Band of Brandon, and Tyler Carroll and Pineridge of Quitman. Bring your lawn chairs. Concessions for sale by Friends of Clarkco State Park. Entry fee is $2 per person. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clarkco State Park, 386 Clarkco Road. Details: 601-776-6651.

Another of my signs of fall came early this year. I watch for the hummingbirds to swarm our feeders every September. That’s when they start coming through Mississippi migrating back to Mexico and Central America from summering in places as far north as Canada. But I have already been seeing more than normal numbers at our house beginning back in late July and early August. Maybe it’s been so hot they decided not to make the whole trip this year and found some shade and stayed. Then again, maybe I’ve seen more because I’ve been keeping my hummingbird feeders ﬁlled better thisBackyear.when we were kids, we rarely saw hummingbirds. Maybe we were too busy. But it was an event worthy of telling the rest of the gang when one whizzed past. Of course, by the time I could tell them, the hummer would have ﬂitted on and none of the other kids saw it. But with feeders at the end of our porch just outside the kitchen window, we have hummingbirds so often that I rarely bother to announce seeing one anymore. Although occasionally I do. By the way, the hummingbirds come back through Mississippi in great numbers in March heading north. Just like the sun, both sun and birds head south in the fall and north in spring. Another practical marker of the ongoing seasons.

Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” Walt is also a reporter and 4 p.m. news anchor at WJTV in Jackson. He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com. by Walt Grayson

SEPTEMBER 2022 | TODAY 31

Labor Day is to autumn what Memorial Day is to summer — the marker for the unofﬁcial beginning of the new season. The actual changing of the seasons are offset a few weeks determined by the position of the sun in relation to the equator. Autumn begins when the sun passes over the equator heading south in late September, and winter starts as soon as the sun gets as far south as it is going and heads back north in late December. Then spring begins when the sun passes over the equator again on its return trip back north in late March. Summer starts when the sun makes it as far north as it going to go and starts back south in late June. Celestially, the sun dictates the seasons. However, in practical terms, the way we live our lives isn’t tied to the earth and the sun so much as it is governed by things such as the school year starting and ending. Holidays like Christmas, Memorial Day, and Labor Day make good way markers, too. Besides, back to school has more of a tangible effect on our lives than the sun crossing some invisible line. Settling into the routine of the kids off to class is a distinct way-of-life change from the unstructured days of summer.

Years ago, back when school didn’t start until after Labor Day weekend, it really made September seem more like fall than summer. But with school starting in early August nowadays, it muddles up my September “clean break” theory. It’s a blend more than a bang.

Another of my signs of fall came early this year. I watch for the hummingbirds to swarm our feeders every September. That’s when they start coming through Mississippi migrating back to Mexico and Central America.

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